School Safeguarding Officer & Student Welfare Lead (DDSL)

Location: Hackney, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (37 hours per week, Term-Time + 10 Days or All-Year-Round option)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

A vibrant, progressive secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Hackney is seeking a dedicated, empathetic, and highly resilient School Safeguarding Officer to serve as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL). Positioned at the heart of the school's pastoral and child protection structure, this post is ideal for an experienced safeguarding practitioner, social worker, pastoral manager, or police/youth welfare specialist looking to protect pupil wellbeing, lead targeted interventions, and uphold statutory child welfare standards across a diverse Inner London school community.

About the Role

As the Safeguarding Officer, you will work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Pastoral SLT to manage daily child protection disclosures, coordinate early help plans, and maintain multi-agency safeguarding operations. Acting as a trusted voice for vulnerable young people, you will handle sensitive case management, maintain digital safeguarding logs (e.g., CPOMS), collaborate with Hackney Children’s Social Care, and deliver proactive support strategies that ensure every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to learn.

• Environment: A forward-thinking Inner London secondary campus utilizing integrated child protection databases (e.g., CPOMS, MyConcern) and maintaining strong ties with local youth support networks, mental health hubs, and local authority social services

• Culture: A compassionate, equity-driven educational environment where pupil protection, trauma-informed care, and statutory compliance under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) are paramount

Key Responsibilities

• Case Management & Triaging: Triage daily safeguarding disclosures, conduct initial risk assessments, record detailed case logs on CPOMS, and implement timely safety plans for students at risk of harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

• Multi-Agency Liaison: Act as a primary liaison with external agencies, attending Child Protection (CP) conferences, Child in Need (CIN) reviews, Team Around the Family (TAF) panels, and Hackney Children’s Social Care consultations.

• Student & Family Support: Deliver one-to-one welfare check-ins, design targeted early help interventions, and work closely with parents and carers to address attendance, mental health, socio-economic challenges, and family dynamics.

• Staff Training & Advice: Assist the DSL in delivering statutory safeguarding induction training, providing daily advice to teaching and support staff on identifying indicators of harm, peer-on-peer abuse, and contextual safeguarding risks.

• Compliance & Auditing: Maintain accurate, audit-ready safeguarding documentation in strict alignment with KCSIE, working with the Pastoral Team to monitor high-risk student cohorts and statutory reporting returns.

Requirements

• Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL/DDSL) certification or equivalent professional qualification in Social Work, Youth Work, Criminology, or Pastoral Care.

• Demonstrable experience managing safeguarding, child protection, or multi-agency casework within an educational, social care, local authority, or youth services setting.

• Deep operational knowledge of statutory safeguarding guidance (KCSIE, Working Together to Safeguard Children), contextual safeguarding, domestic abuse pathways, and mental health triage.

• Practical experience using digital safeguarding management systems (e.g., CPOMS, MyConcern) with exceptional report-writing and analytical skills.

• Outstanding emotional intelligence, calm crisis-management skills, and absolute discretion when handling sensitive family and pupil information.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with safeguarding qualifications and specialist experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), structured continuous professional development (CPD/advanced DSL credentials), dedicated supervision support, and access to staff health and wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced child welfare advocate ready to protect and support young people at a dynamic secondary school in Hackney, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.